Global Cold Chain News

Volkswagen launches electric van in UK

21st May 2020

Milton Keynes, UK: Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has launched its first fully electric van in the UK.

Although electric van sales in the UK and Europe are low with European electric van sales of 26,107 units – 1.2% of total EU light commercial vehicle sales – almost all manufacturers are gearing up for volume production.

Volkewagen’s ABT eTransporter 6.1 is the latest offering to tempt operators. With its zero-emission status, all variants are exempt from road tax and get unrestricted access to the London Ultra Low Emission Zone and cean air zones.

Volkwagen’s new van has a cargo area of 6.7m3 and payload of up to 1,001kg. Total range is up to 82 miles. It can provide an 80% battery charge in 45 minutes.

The ABT eTransporter 6.1, is has regenerative braking, switching the drive motor to generator operation to recover energy lost when braking. The resulting current is fed to the battery and stored for later use.

Charging is eitherAC and DC which means any device that has either a CCS (DC charging) or Type 2 (AC charging) plug type can be used.

Penso is building lightweight bodies for 3.5 tonne vans that provide up to 50% more payload and up to 30% more capacity: bit.ly/3bxJz6X

Thank you from one of our editors who is in the "vulnerable" category - exemplary service, great food box, driver left the box at the door and rang. It was very exciting as we weren't expecting it! Many thanks. twitter.com/Brakes_Food/st…